Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

ROQUES METAMÒRFIQUES
METAPELITES SERIE REGIONAL

(ENGLISH) In this file you’ll find microscope images of metamorphic rocks and its
textures discussed during our 6th practical session: Regional metapelites. Images are
presented in transmitted light and crossed polars so you can do the work as closely as
what you’d be doing in the petrology lab. Remember you have to present 3 reports of
regional metapelites (2 thin sections and 1 hand specimen).

METAPELITES: REGIONAL SERIES

Regional metamorphism is the most extensive of all types of metamorphism, occurring

in large areas at medium to high depth in the crust, in orogenic belts, and in contact
between tectonic plates (subduction zones). This metamorphism needs large periods of
time to be able to generate a significant change in pressure and temperature that affects
the rocks, as both parameters act in a combined way. Mineral and structural changes are
therefore slow and can be completed over periods of up to millions of years. Regional
metamorphism can occur in subduction zones (destructive plate margins).

In areas where orogenic metamorphism has ocurred, rocks have often developed under
medium-high temperature conditions, and pressures range from low to very high. These
geothermal gradients, often moderate to high, generate the Buchan and Barrow Facies
series (pressures higher than the contact facies series), which may contain different
mineral sequences

The Buchan Facies series takes place at LOWER pressures than those of the triple point
of aluminosilicates (Ky-And-Sil; yellow lines) (Fig.1-3) in medium-grade
metamorphisms; its sequence of aluminosilicates is Kaolinite-> pyrophyllite->
andalusite-> Sillimanite

The Barrovian Facies series, on the other hand, develops where the pressure in the
stages of medium-grade metamorphism is HIGHER than that of the triple point of
aluminosilicates (yellow lines) (Fig.2-3); its sequence is then Kaolinite -> pyrophyllite -
> cyanite -> Sillimanite .

Fig.1 Progressive mineralogical changes of metapelites in regional metamorphism along

the low P-T sequence (Buchan) (Miyashiro 1961); Black = mineral Present. Gray =
possible mineral.
Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

Fig. 2 Progressive mineralogical changes of metapelites in regional metamorphism

along the intermediate P-T sequence (Barrow) (Miyashiro 1961); Black = mineral
Present. Gray = possible mineral.

Fig.3 Facies, facies series, and P-T trajectories; depending on their P, metapelites may
follow a number of different facies and therefore undergo very abundant changes.

Metapelites derive from lutitic sedimentary rocks (pelites, quartzitic pelites, fine
sandstones, cherts, orthoquarsites), dominated by typical lutitic minerals (very fine
phyllosilicates rich in Al and K such as clays (montmorillonite, kaolinite, or smectite),
fine-grained white micas (sericite, paragonite, or fengite) and chlorite); the term pelite
designates very fine-grained sediments. Pelites develop a characteristic mineral
succession during progressive metamorphism. Limolites (coarser grain) do not develop
such a characteristic sequence, and are known as semipelites. In chemical terms they are
characterized by significant amounts of SiO2, Al2O3, FeO, MgO, K2O and H2O. In
metapelites, characteristic minerals such as staurolite, chlorite, cyanite, andalusite,
sillimanite and cordierite, among others, are formed.
Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

Lutitic rocks are rocks very sensitive to P-T variations, so they are subjected to many
mineralogical changes during metamorphism; these can be divided into two groups
depending on their aluminum content; one of the important differences is that lutites
RICH in Al, are located above the field of the chlorite, whereas lutites poor in Al no;
this generates that the succession of mineral associations during the prograding
metamorphism in each type of metapelite will be very different (lutites poor in Al
DON’T develop chloritoid whereas the rich ones do) (Fig.4)

Fig.4. AFM diagram projected from Qz, Mu, and H2O showing the most common
minerals in metapelites and three representative rock compositions (red and green dots).

Depending on their grade of metamorphic development, metapelites can be classified

into

1- Slates
Metamorphic rocks of very low-to low metamorphic grade, very finely grained
(minerals NOT observable at eye sight) that presents / displays smooth and regular
cleavage (slatty cleavage) which allows to break it in laminae, and that does not
present/display a marked sheen. They come from compacted and metamorphosed lutites
that evolve to phyllites -> schists -> gneiss as they bury

2- Phyllites
Low-grade metamorphic rocks, which have a perfect schistosity due to the arrangement
of their phyllosilicates, although this has less smooth and regular planes than slates; the
crystals are larger than in slates but smaller than in schists. The schistossity surfaces
have a characteristic satin sheencaused by these larger crystals.

3- Pelitic schists
Low to medium grade metamorphic rocks, of medium to coarse grain, with larger
crystals than Phyllites, already observable to eye sight. Flattened and stretched minerals
(mainly micas) generate very marked and well-developed schistosity plans. Its
mineralogical composition is highly variable
Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

4- Pelitic gneiss
Medium to high-grade metamorphic rocks, coarse-grained with crystals more developed
in general than in schists; due to their greater metamorphic grade, instead of observing a
well-developed foliation and a preferential orientation, minerals are generally grouped
in bands (or lenses) of more susceptible to deformation - such as micas, elongated
minerals in general, and minerals less susceptible to deformation (quartz, feldspars,
etc.); these bands are thicker (i.e., better delimited and differentiated) than the planes
defined by the schistosity in the schists, they may be parallel or folded (more ductile
bands). As the metamorphic grade increases, they might transform into migmatites, very
high-grade rocks that record partial melting, composed of dark (mafic) bands of
metamorphic appearance, and light (felsic) bands of igneous appearance.

Fig.5 Mineralogical changes in index minerals according to metamorphic grade of

metapelites in regional metamorphism.

These rocks will present very diverse mineralogies as the metamorphic grade increases.
In general, the mineral associations in low metamorphic grade rocks (slates and
phyllites) are the same in the Buchan Facies Series than in the Barrovian Facies Series
(low and medium pressure). Similarly, low-medium grade rocks (corresponding to
greenschist facies- Fig.6) are mineralogically similar in both series. The mineralogical
differences between them are found in medium to high grade rocks (amphibolite facies).
Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

Fig. 6 Facies series and metamorphic grade associated with each facies.

Metamorphic zones have been defined within these series, these are units defined by the
presence of an index mineral in the rock

Barrow Zones (intermediate pressure rmetamorphic egimes) are defined by the first
appearance of index minerals that often persist towards areas of higher metamorphic
grade (higher temperature). Depending on the T, these minerals are chlorite, biotite,
garnet, staurolite, cyanite, and sillimanite (Fig.7). The metamorphic zones are named
after the corresponding index mineral, and are located mainly in the greenschist facies,
amphibolite facies, and granulite facies.

- Chlorite Zone:

Metapelites are very fine-grained slates, often with graphite (gives the black color of
many slates), phyllites and sometimes schists. They typically contain Chlorite +
fengite (mica sericite) ± quartz ± albite ± Kfs ± stilpnomelane ± calcite ±
accessories (pyrite, Fe-Ti oxides), many inherited from earlier lutitic sediments.

- Biotite Zone

Metapelites on this zone are defined by the first appearance of biotite; they are typically
phyllites and schists. Mineralological differences are observed depending on whether
the protholith was an Al-rich or Al-poor lutite (Fig. 9-10). They generally contain Qz +
Ab + Mu + Chl + Bt ± microcline ± calcite ± epidote. Metapelites RICH in Al, do not
develop Bt until later stages, and in their place is find Chloritoid; this one defines an
intermediate zone between the chlorite zone and the one of the biotite.
Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

Fig.7 Phase diagram for the stability zones of the index minerals indicative of Barrovian
metamorphism (medium pressure)

- Garnet zone

Metapelites in this zone are defined by the first appearance of garnet (Almandine Fe-
rich) and are medium to coarse-grained schists. It is found in the transition from
greenschist facies to amphibolite facies. The mineral association present is Qz + Ab +
Mu + Bt + Grt ± chl ± epidote ± ilm ± mt. Metapelites RICH in Al also develop
garnet in this area, although they do not yet contain Bt.

- Staurolite zone

Metapelites in this zone are defined by the first appearance of the staurolite and are
medium to coarse-grained schists. It is from this metamorphic zone that one can
differentiate between pelites and semipelites. Staurolite only develops on rocks rich in
Al and poor in Ca. Many mica and garnet schists are not compositionally suitable for
staurolite growth, and are therefore called semipelites. In metapelites that do develop
staurolite, the mineral association often contains Qz + Mu + Bt + Grt + St ± Chl
(retrograde in Al-poor pelites). The presence of Pl will determine the absence of
staurolite, as it will combine the available Ca with Al to form Anorthite, reducing the
amount of Al available to form other Al silicates such as staurolite. Chloritoid may also
be present in Al-rich metapelites still in this area (its upper limit of stability is at slightly
higher temperatures).
Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

- Kyanite zone
Metapelites in this zone are defined by the first appearance of kyanite and are coarse-
grained schists. In this zone there are several mineral associations: Ky + bt + st, Ky +
St + bt + Ms + Qtz, Ky + Grt + bt + Ms + Qtz, Ky + Grt + St + Bt + Ms + Qtz, Ky +
bt + Ms + Qtz. Gradual formation of kyanite occurs in rocks that did NOT contain Chl
when they were in the P-T conditions corresponding to the staurolite zone. In this area
Al-rich pelites already contain Bt

- Sillimanite zone
This zone differs from the kyanite zone only by the presence of sillimanite (kyanite may
still be present) following a very slow polymorphic reaction. Sillimanite usually appears
in the form of needles forming compact masses (fibrolite). The thicker-grained
prismatic sillimanite is restricted to higher-grade facies (granulite facies). Typically,
metapelites in this zone are very coarse-grained schists and gneisses. The typical
mineral association is Sill ± St + Grt + Bt + Ms + Qtz + Pl ± Ky.

Reactions can be found happening above the Silimanite zone, if the temperature exceeds
750º, that marks what is known as the Kfs-Silimanite Zone, which takes place above
the amphibolite facies (granulite facies). This area marks the disappearance of Mu, and
the genesis of Kfs and large amounts of Sillimanite, so it is also known as the second
isograde of Sillimanite.

Fig 8. Evolution of changes in index minerals according to the metamorphic grade of

metapelites in regional metamorphism.
Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

Fig.9 Most important reactions during the Barrovian regional metamorphism of pelitic
rocks. The numbers identify each of the reactions that marks a zone boundary (they
correspond to Fig.10)

Fig.10.- Figure 8 Reactions superimposed on a diagram of metamorphic facies. The

sequence drawn corresponds to POOR- Al metapelites. For Al-RICH metapelites,
simply replace the biotite isograde (Bt “in”) with the chloritoid (approximately at the
same temperature) and add the disappearance of the chloritoid (Ctd “out”) between the
staurolite and kyanite isogrades.
Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

SLATES AND PHYLLITES:

Nom lámina: PISCRE-1. Alex Strekeissen: http://www.alexstrekeisen.it/
Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

Nom Làmina: FILI-SER-1. http://edafologia.ugr.es/

Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

Nom lamina: FISL-2. Alex Strekeissen: http://www.alexstrekeisen.it/

Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

Nom lamina: PISA-SER-1http://edafologia.ugr.es/

Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

PELITIC SCHISTS AND PELITIC GNEISSES:

Nom lamina: STGNE-1. Alex Strekeissen: http://www.alexstrekeisen.it/
Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

Nom lamina: STEGNE-2. Alex Strekeissen: http://www.alexstrekeisen.it/

Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

Nom lamina: GRT-MC-SCH-1. Alex Strekeissen: http://www.alexstrekeisen.it/

Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

Nom lamina: ANDSCH-1. Alex Strekeissen: http://www.alexstrekeisen.it/

Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

Nom lamina: CHLTD-SCH-1. Alex Strekeissen: http://www.alexstrekeisen.it/

Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

Nom lamina: GRTGN-1. UK Virtual Microscope. https://www.virtualmicroscope.org/

Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

HAND SPECIMENS:

Nom mostra: ALGNE-1. Alex Strekeissen: http://www.alexstrekeisen.it/

Nom Mostra: FILAL-1. Alex Strekeissen: http://www.alexstrekeisen.it/

Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

Nom mostra: PIS-2. https://ellibrodelosmateriales.blogspot.com/

Nom Mostra: FILI-1. https://ellibrodelosmateriales.blogspot.com/

Petrologia metamórfica – Virtual teaching Pràctica 6- Metapelites: Regional series

Nom Mostra: GRASTSCH-1. https://www.pitt.edu/